CouchSurfing rapist jailed for attack on traveller

A man who raped a tourist in an “appalling” attack in his own home after inviting her to stay with him was today put behind bars for 10 years.

Abdelali Nachet, 34, attacked the woman from Hong Kong after offering her a place to stay on travellers’ website CouchSurfing.

Jailed: Abdelali Nachet

The 29-year-old, who had successfully used the site prior to attending his address in Leeds.

During her trip round Europe she had already used the service, which locals offer free accommodation to travelers to stay at members home.

She contacted Morrocon-born Nachet after seeing his adverstisement but after arriving at his home in the Moortown area of Leeds she was raped by her host who also threatened to kill her.

Police said her attacker “preyed on the kindness and hospitality of those using the internet to meet new people and explore new places.”

The woman reported the attack to police after leaving Leeds and returning to the West Midlands, where she told a friend she had previously stayed with through the website about the rape.

Nachet was yesterday found guilty at Leeds Crown Court of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault after a retrial.

A jury failed to reach a verdict at the original trial earlier this year.

Detective Sergeant Emma Wight, of West Yorkshire Polices Rape Investigation Unit, said: “This woman was visiting the UK and had trusted Nachet’s motives for offering his home as somewhere for people to stay.

“He violated this trust in the most appalling way and I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and courage shown by the victim in this case who has returned to the UK from Hong Kong to take part in the trial.”